submissive

American  

[suhb-mis-iv] / səbˈmɪs ɪv /

adjective

1. inclined or ready to submit or yield to the authority of another; unresistingly or humbly obedient.

   submissive servants.

   Synonyms:

   amenable, pliant, compliant, tractable

   Antonyms:

   disobedient, rebellious

2. marked by or indicating submission or a yielding to the authority of another.

   a submissive reply.

   Synonyms:

   subdued, tame, docile, patient, resigned, passive

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noun

1. Informal, sub.  the participant in a BDSM sexual encounter or relationship who is obedient, giving power and control to another participant.

submissive British  

/ səbˈmɪsɪv /

adjective

1. of, tending towards, or indicating submission, humility, or servility

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Other Word Forms

• nonsubmissive adjective
• nonsubmissively adverb
• nonsubmissiveness noun
• quasi-submissive adjective
• quasi-submissively adverb
• submissively adverb
• submissiveness noun
• unsubmissive adjective
• unsubmissively adverb
• unsubmissiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of submissive

First recorded in 1580–90; submiss + -ive

Explanation

When animals live in packs, one animal is usually the dominant leader, while the others fall into more submissive roles. To be submissive is to obey or yield to someone else. When you are submissive, you submit to someone else's will, which literally, you put your own desires lower than theirs. You can see this in the Latin root of submit, submittere, which is formed by sub- "under" + mittere "send, put."

Example Sentences

In reality, this win against a submissive Spurs was simply a step on the road from Anfield's anticipation to the glorious realisation that the prize was theirs.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2025

But I don’t think most people are being willfully submissive to tech, only that they seek beauty in the wrong places.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2025

Judges in places like Massachusetts were customarily paid by appropriation of the colonial legislature, which could withhold or delay payment to judges thought too submissive to British interests.

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2025

The character’s influence lies in her ability to observe and to be “totally alert” to everything happening around her during the conclave, but not in a submissive way.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2024

Happy, thoughtful times there in the old study which Jo called ‘the church of one member’, and from which she came with fresh courage, recovered cheerfulness, and a more submissive spirit.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Related Words

• accommodating
• deferential
• dutiful
• meek
• obedient
• passive